Ventura County Business Law Firm

Matilija Law was proud to be a sponsor of “Gavin’s Team” at the 2018 Aut2Run held at California State University, Channel Islands on April 29th. With 40 participants, Gavin’s Team was among the largest teams to show up and raise money for the Autism Society of Ventura County.

The team was created and led by Ashley Pope, owner of Spice-Topia in Ventura, and her son, Gavin. The team finished second among all teams in fundraising, exceeding their team fundraising goal.

“This was a great event” says Matilija Law’s Melissa Sayer. “We were so happy we could help build team spirit by sponsoring the team’s t-shirts. We’re already looking forward to next year.”

It has been a pleasure to watch Ventura County’s very own public university grow into the strong institution that it has become today. I am honored to join the Executive Committee of California State University Channel Islands‘ Business and Technology Partnership. Coverage from the Star can be read here!

I received a surprise call from a writer for the American Bar Association recently. That conversation lead to an article which appears in the ABA’s Perspectives magazine. It is always interesting to me to see how people shape their lives and careers. The portion of the article about me is copied below, but I encourage people to read the complete article here.

Have you ever made an offer on a 23-acre citrus and avocado ranch as a lark, fully expecting rejection? And then your offer was accepted?

“I thought, ‘I guess we’re doing this!’” recalls Melissa Sayer, who fell into ranching exactly that way. She operates a general business law practice in Ventura, California, and then heads home to her ranch.

“My husband’s family has been in agriculture since the 1800s, and he always wanted to go back to it,” she says.

When the couple made the offer on the ranch, Sayer was figuring out whether to stay on a partner track at a Palo Alto, California, firm.

“I figure it turned out the way it was supposed to,” she says. “I think I’m a better lawyer because I have another business. And I have a much closer connection to my clients than I did in the Bay Area.”

She’s also more connected to her community. There’s a farm lab at the ranch for school-age kids, and California State University sends its students out for hands-on learning as the Sayers experiment with various grains. That can lead to unexpected outcomes, like a partnership with a distillery making moonshine with the Sayers’ experimental sugar beets.

“This was a really good move,” Sayer concludes. “I feel much more centered. It’s twice as much work, but I’m much happier.”

As a lawyer who spent several formative years at the beginning of my career in Silicon Valley, I have always been eager to use technology to make my job easier and more efficient. When I founded Matilija Law, making the best possible use of available software and hardware was a priority, and after nearly a year, I am happy to say that decision has been good for both my firm and my clients.

But I found myself missing one piece of office technology that I didn’t expect: a typewriter. Typewriters has already been pushed to the sidelines by the time I began my practice, but there was always one ticked away anywhere I have ever worked. Certain jobs, especially completing government forms, we’re designed for a typewriter years ago and the typewriter remains the right took for the job today.

So now the dual monitor displays, high speed scanner, laser printers, and VOIP phone system have a new teammate: a 1960’s vintage manual typewriter. The cool Mid-century design and cheerful yellow hue (matching my Matilija poppy corporate colors) makes a great addition to my workspace.

Recently, I attended an awards dinner hosted by the Santa Barbara based Spirit of Entrepreneurship Foundation. I do not think I have ever come across a more aptly named organization. A 501(c)3, they host the awards dinner as a fundraising event to provide scholarships to high-school and college student entrepreneurs. It was an inspiring evening. In my line of work, I am used to meeting people who have tremendous grit and big dreams, but to have so many in one room was a real treat.

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All images are used with the permission of
Denise Dewire Photography,
Ventura, CA

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The information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this site or associated pages, entries, comments, emails, logs or other communication should be taken as legal advice by anyone for any reason, situation or purpose. The information on this website and its related pages is not intended to create, and the receipt or viewing of any of the information, does not constitute an attorney client relationship with Melissa Sayer or Matilija Law Inc, and is not intended to replace the advice of counsel.